Prince Harry celebrated his 40th birthday this Sunday, September 15, surrounded by his wife Meghan and their two children in California. The surprise, however, did not come from his immediate family. It came from the British royal family, with whom relations have been strained for several years. For the first time since 2021, King Charles III publicly sent birthday wishes to Harry. Prince William also made this gesture.
The last time the royal family acknowledged Harry’s birthday was in 2021. This was before tensions escalated due to several shocking revelations from the couple. That year, Harry and Meghan, during an interview with Oprah Winfrey, denounced the behavior of certain members of the royal family, particularly regarding the skin color of their son Archie. This interview marked a turning point in the already fragile family relations.
On Sunday, a brief message was posted on the official royal family account. “We wish the Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!” it read, accompanied by a photo of the smiling prince. Shortly after, a similar message appeared on the X account of Prince William and Princess Kate. This unexpected act was widely commented on. Indeed, the birthdays of non-active members of the royal family generally do not receive public attention.
The tensions between Prince Harry and the rest of the royal family are not new. In January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced their withdrawal from their royal duties, citing media pressure and concerns about their family’s safety. A few months later, they moved to California, creating a physical and symbolic distance from Buckingham Palace.
The culmination of these tensions was the publication in 2023 of Harry’s memoir, Spare. In this book, the prince severely criticizes his family, particularly his brother William and his father, Charles III. These revelations have further deepened the rift within the royal family.
The last public appearance of the two brothers dates back to September 2022, during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Although present together, they barely interacted, visibly marking the distance that now separates them. Since then, opportunities for reconciliation have remained rare.
The birthday wishes sent to Harry on September 15 were seen by many as a possible gesture of openness. Some even see it as an opportunity for reconciliation. British media have been speculating for several months about a potential return of the royal couple to the United Kingdom. However, nothing has been confirmed at this time. According to some sources, Harry and Meghan have been invited to spend Christmas in England with his mother’s family, Diana. This would mark Meghan’s first trip to the UK since the queen’s funeral.
However, obstacles remain. Harry continues to emphasize his concerns related to security. This major issue partly motivated his departure from the UK. Additionally, the prince is involved in several business projects in the United States. These initiatives seem to indicate that he does not foresee an imminent return to the royal family.
Despite this, recent polls show a significant improvement in Harry’s image in the UK. A third of Britons now say they are in favor of the prince’s permanent return to his royal duties. This is a notable increase compared to previous months.
If the royal family has extended a hand on this birthday occasion, it remains to be seen whether Harry and Meghan will accept a true reconciliation. For now, Harry is enjoying his life in California. He recently told the BBC that he was “excited at 40.” This marks a clear break from the period of anxiety he went through ten years earlier. For now, this gesture could be the first step towards easing tensions after years of conflict.